New AI tools for smarter farming practices

Nov 27, 2024
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

AI enhances precision farming and food quality

Protein Industries Canada, in collaboration with Croptimistic Technology, TheoryMesh, and C-Merak Innovations, has launched an innovative project leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the agri-food value chain.

The collaboration focuses on collecting and analyzing detailed farm data to optimize processing techniques, reduce waste, and enhance sustainability claims on food products.

This AI-driven approach will offer verified, regulation-compliant data to meet consumer demands for transparency while helping producers access sustainability incentives and alternative markets.

This initiative aims to enhance efficiency, improve food quality, and promote sustainability from farms to food processors. By advancing precision agriculture tools, the project will enable detailed data collection at the sub-field level, providing valuable insights for farmers, processors, and manufacturers.

With a total investment of $5.4 million, Protein Industries Canada contributes $2.4 million, while project partners provide the remaining funding. These AI technologies are expected to boost sustainability, competitiveness, and profitability within Canada’s agriculture and food sectors.

“We believe that harnessing the use of AI technology is key to improving the quality and value of the precision ag solutions that we provide to the agrifood industry,” said Phillip Harder, Research Director and Hydrological Scientist at Croptimistic Technology.

“To see the data we collect being used to its fullest capabilities beyond the farmgate is a nod to the positive direction we’re heading in with integrating AI technologies to increase agricultural sustainability and food production efficiency.”

“Working with extensive primary farm and food processing data in this project will allow us to use our AI models to improve manufacturing yields, reduce loss and create measurable impact on the sustainability of food production,” said TheoryMesh Co-Founder and CEO Chris Bunio.

As one of Canada’s five Global Innovation Clusters, Protein Industries Canada continues to create opportunities in ingredient manufacturing, food processing, and bio-products. By driving projects like this, the organization supports local job creation, economic growth, and new market development, showcasing Canada’s leadership in sustainable agriculture. For more information, visit www.theroadto25billion.ca.

Photo Credit: freepik-farm-tech

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.